A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846, Part 5

Author: Greenleaf, Jonathan, 1785-1865. cn
Publication date: 1846
Publisher: New York, E. French; Portland, Hyde, & Duren
Number of Pages: 784


USA > New York > New York City > A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846 > Part 5


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CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION.


This church was formed in the year 1827, and the Rev. Manton Eastburn became its Rector. On the 6th of April, in the following spring, the corner stone of a building was laid by Bishop Hobart, for the accommodation


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of this congregation ; situated on Canal street, between Broadway and Elm street, and it was completed, and opened for worship May 26th, 1828. At this time the church had increased to seventy members. A large congregation was soon gathered here, but, in the summer of 1839, the church edifice was destroyed by fire; and it was then thought best to remove from that spot. The new edifice was built on Fifth avenue, cor- ner of Tenth street, which was consecrated November 5th, 1841. In December of the next year, Dr. Eastburn resigned, having been elected Bishop of Massachusetts, and was succeeded by the present Rector, Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, on March 19th, 1843.


ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.


The service of the Episcopal church was commenced at Harlem, in November, 1825. In February following, the parish was orga- nized, and on October 20th of that year, the church was formed with eighteen members, taking the name of "St. Andrew's Church," and the Rev. George L. Hinton became its rector. A house of worship was built,


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


and opened June 1st, 1830. The cost of the house was about $5000. Mr. Hinton died of cholera, in the summer of 1832, together with his wife and two children. After this the Rev. Mr. Coit supplied for a time, and in 1834, the Rev. Abram B. Hart became Rector, and remained in office six years. He was succeeded, in 1840, by Rev. James H. Bayley, who officiated as Rector two years. When Mr. Bayley resigned, Rev. Ralph Hoyt supplied the pulpit for about one year, when, in 1843, the present pastor of the church, Rev. R. Mason Aber- crombie, was instituted. The present num- ber of communicants is forty-five.


ST. CLEMENT'S CHURCH.


In the month of July, 1830, an Episcopal church was organized under the above title, and the Rev. Lewis P. Bayard was appoint- ed Rector. They met for worship in what was called " The Long Room," in the rear of the military hall, on Barrow street. The first services were attended by only about thirty persons. During the summer the congregation increased to about one hundred and eighty, and about thirty-six were enrol-


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led as communicants. Measures were immediately taken to erect a church edifice, which was accomplished; and the house opened for worship, May 5th, 1831. It is situated on Amity street, near Sullivan street. Dr. Bayard continued to officiate here, usefully and succcessfully, until the close of the year 1839, when his health fail- ed, and he left for Europe, and finally died at Malta, September 2d, 1840. The Rev. Edward N. Mead was left in charge of the church, as a temporary supply, and after the death of Dr. Bayard, became Rector, and continues to the present time.


ST. PETER'S CHURCH.


St. Peter's Episcopal Church is located on Twentieth street, near the Ninth avenue, and in the neighborhood of the Episcopal Theo- logical Seminary. A church was organized here in the summer of 1831, and the Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, who was then connected with the Theological Seminary, became a stated supply. In the course of that year, a chapel was built, which was opened as a place of worship Feb. 4, 1832. The congrega- tion was then small, and 22 members only


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were enrolled in the church. Mr. Haight continued as the supply until Dec. 1, 1833, when he was duly instituted as Rector. In the next year he resigned this charge, and removed to Cincinnati, and was succeeded ' in the Rectorship of St. Peter's, on Nov. 2, 1834, by the Rev. Smith Pyne, who remain-


ed nearly two years, when the present Rec- tor, Rev. Hugh Smith, D.D., succeeded him. In the early part of Dr. Smith's ministry the present house of worship was built. It was completed and opened Feb. 22, 1838, after which the old chapel was converted into a parsonage house.


-EPISCOPAL MISSION CHURCHES.


The Episcopal City Mission was organ- ized in the autumn of the year 1831, when it was resolved to establish Mission Churches, for the more destitute portions of the popu- lation in the city. The first church of this description was in Vandewater street. A house of worship had been built there ten years before, occupied successively by the Congregationalists, Presbyterians, and Re- formed Dutch. This house was purchased for $16,000, consecrated by the Bishop ac-


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cording to the forms of the Episcopal Church on Nov. 19, 1831, under the title of " The Mission Church of the Holy Evan- gelists." The Rev. Benjamin C. Cutler was appointed to labor there, and entered on his labors in December of that year. During the first year a congregation of about 400 persons was generally gathered on the Sab- bath, a large number attended communion there, and about 30 gave in their names as permanent members of the church.


On the 14th of March, 1833, Mr. Cutler resigned his station as Missionary, having been elected Rector of St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn. He was succeeded in the Mis- sion Church by the Rev. Hugh Smith, of Hartford, Conn., who labored here until early in the spring of 1836, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Alexander Frazer. The church was in a prosperous state, with 92 members, and a large and flourishing Sab- bath School.


Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg succeeded Mr. Frazer, and remained until Nov., 1838, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Jesse Pound, who remained in charge of the church until Feb. 1, 1842, at which time the num-


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


ber of communicants was something over 200. Mr. Pound was then transferred to the Mission Church of St. Matthew ; since which time the Rev. Benjamin Evans has had charge of this cl In Sept., 1845, this church was received into the Conven- tion, and its connection with the city mission was dissolved.


CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY.


The origin of this church is full of inte- rest. On a Sabbath, in the autumn of 1832, the Rev. Dr. Mc Vickar had occasion to pass through Stanton street, the lower part of which was then a wretched and neglected quarter of the city. Here he encountered · throngs of idle and destitute children, play- ing in the street, or lounging in the sun. Addressing one of the groups with the ques- tion why they were not at Sunday School, he was answered that there was none; and why they were not at church, that there was no church. His heart was moved with the situation of those children and their parents, and on reporting this case to two Christian ladies they at once placed in his hands $75, saying, " We will have on that spot a Mis-


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


sion Church ; do you preach, and we will help you." Thus encouraged, a room was sought for, and with some difficulty obtain- ed, not far from that spot. It was a small dark room, over an Engine House, facing on Allen street. Here, as the first congregation, there were assembled six adult worship- pers, with two prayer-books, and a few rag- ged children that were persuaded to enter. On the second Sabbath the room was filled, and a Sabbath School organized; and on the third Sabbath the congregation assem- bled in a more commodious place, being a Hall on the corner of Allen and Houston streets, then called North street. This was on Jan. 6th, 1833, being most appropriately Epiphany, or the day of the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.


In looking for a permanent missionary to cultivate this new and interesting field, one of the ladies above referred to, named the Rev. Lot Jones, then settled in Massachusetts, as a suitable man, offering to guarantee his support for the first six months. He was accordingly written to and obtained, and entered on his labors in February following. On the 26th of August, of the same year, a 9 -


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site having been purchased on Stanton street, near to the place where Dr. Mc Vickar met the boys, the corner stone of the "Church of the Epiphany" was laid by Bishop Moore, of Virginia ; and it was completed and opened for service on June 23th, 1834 ; the whole establishment having cost about $19,000. Here Mr. Jones has continued his labors to the present time, being the regular Rector of that church ; and as we look into this house of worship now, con- taining on every Sabbath a large and atten- tive congregation, including more than five hundred communicants at the Lord's table, and a flourishing Sabbath school of three hundred children, under the care of forty de- voted teachers, and compare it with the be- ginning, as above stated, we are constrained to exclaim with gratitude, " What hath God wrought ?"


THE CHURCH OF ST. MATTHEW.


In the early part of the year 1812, a legacy from the estate of Mr. Charles Morgan, of $15,000, was confided to the disposal of his pastor, the Rev. Dr. Eastburn, but with a suggestion concerning the purchase of a


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


building then known to be for sale, standing on Christopher street, which was built and used by the Eighth Presbyterian Church, with a view to the establishment of a third Mission Church. To this sum there was afterwards added a legacy of $5,000, from the estate of Thomas Otis, Esq. In con- sequence of these liberal bequests the build- ing was purchased for $15,000, and conse- crated as " the Church of St. Matthew," on March 15, 1842. Rev. Jesse Pound, who had previously had charge of the Mission Church in Vandewater street, was transferred to this, and is now its regular Rector. The first communion here was attended in April, 1842, by about fifty communicants, forty of whom expressed a wish to become perma- nently attached to that station. A Sabbath school was commenced with about seventy children. They have now one hundred and seventy, and in May, 1845, reported one hundred and seventy-seven members in com- munion.


" FREE CHURCH OF THE REDEMPTION."


This was a Mission Church, formed about the year 1836. They met for worship in


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


the " Minerva Rooms," Broadway, near Canal street, under the ministry successively of the Rev. John F. Fish, Rev. Edward C. Bull, and the Rev. Calvin Colton, each for short terms of time. A considerable con- gregation attended these services ; a large Sabbath School was gathered, and a hun- dred and twenty members were reported in communion. But these services were all suddenly discontinued, and in 1837, seventy members of the church and many of the congregation mingled with Zion Church in Mott street, then under the charge of the Rev. William Richmond, and the "Free Church of the Redemption" is no longer known. .


" CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH."


An Episcopal church by this name was organized in 1836, and met for worship in the Hall of the " Lyceum of Natural His- tory," on Broadway, near Houston street. At the session of the Convention in October, 1837, they applied to that body to be receiv- ed, but were refused on account of infor- mality. The Rev. Calvin Colton was at that time reported as Rector, but no other


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parochial report was made. In the next year the Rev. Mr. Shimeall was reported as Rector, and after this the church became ex- tinct.


ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH (COLORED).


In the year 1810, an Episcopal church of colored persons was gathered, principally by the labors of the Rev. Isaiah G. DeGrasse, a respectable colored preacher. They met for worship in a Hall on the corner of Elizabeth and Grand streets, and removed afterward to Mott street. Mr. De Grasse preached here about two years, and a con- siderable congregation was gathered around him. But his health becoming impaired, he made a voyage to the West Indies, and died there, and the congregation ceased to meet. Thus things remained for more than two years.


In April of the year 1845, an effort was made to resuscitate this church. Mr. Alex- ander Cromwell, a young colored preacher, was obtained, and a meeting was opened in a Hall, at 592 Broadway. It was found necessary, however, to reorganize the church, 9* .


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which was done with about twenty mem- bers; and as another church had been formed under the name of " St. Matthew," it became necessary to change the name, and it was styled


" THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH."


A congregation of between one and two hundred persons is assembled here, from Sabbath to Sabbath, and efforts are making to obtain a house of worship.


ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH.


This was a small church of eighteen members, formed in the year 1834, and placed under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Thomas S. Brittan. But Mr. Brittan left in the following year, and the church became extinct.


EMMANUEL CHURCH.


An Episcopal church by this name was organized June 20, 1834, with twenty-eight original members. The Rev. Francis H. Cumming was Rector. Cumming con-


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


tinued with this church for a little more than a year, when becoming Rector of the Cal- vary Church, this church was dissolved.


CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.


The efforts which resulted in the estab- lishment of the " Church of the Nativity," were begun by laymen in the organization of a Sabbath School near the Dry-Dock, a district of the city at that time peculiarly destitute of the means of religious instruc- tion. A parish organization took place in April, 1834, and for more than a year, they had nothing more than a temporary place of worship, and a lay-reader. After this the Rev. Samuel Seabury officiated for a time. In the autumn of 1835, the church contained fifty-two members, and the Sabbath School numbered about one hundred and sixty in constant attendance. Toward the close of the year 1835, the Rev. William F. Walker became a stated supply, and continued with the church for one year. In the early part of 1937 the chapel was destroyed by fire ; but the church, though few and weak, were not altogether discouraged ; and having ob-


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


, tained, as a regular supply, the Rev. Solon W. Manney, in July, 1837, they made an effort to struggle on. In 1833 they succeed- ed in erecting a neat brick edifice on Avenue D, and Mr. Manney was duly instituted Rector of the church. In February, 1810, Mr. Manney removed from the State, and was succeeded by Rev. Anthony 'Ten Broeck, who remained a year, and was succeeded in April, 1842, by the Rev. Caleb Clapp, the present pastor. The seats in this church are free. The Sabbath School continues large and flourishing, and the church contains about eighty members.


ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH.


In the spring of 1835, the building of a new Episcopal Church was undertaken on Lafayette place, between Great-Jones street and Fourth street. In the following year the edifice was completed, and the church organized ; and when admitted to the con- vention, in October, 1836, the church Con- tained seventy-three members. Of this church the Rev. Charles Vernon Kelley became Rector. In less than two years Mr. Kelley


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resigned the charge, and was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. L. P. W. Balch.


CALVARY CHURCH.


This church is located on the Fourth avenue, near Twentieth street. It was or- ganized. with nine members, in the year 1836. During that year a small frame build- ing was erected on the Fourth avenue, near Thirty-fifth street, which was opened for worship on January 1st, 1837. About this time the Rev. Francis H. Cumming became Rector, and remained in this office until the summer of 1S3S, when he resigned the charge, and removed to Michigan. At this time the congregation had somewhat enlarg- ed, and forty-four members were enrolled in communion. Rev. Charles Jones was the second pastor of this church, becoming such in November, 1838, and resigning the charge in 1841. About the middle of November, in that year, the Rev. Smyth Pyne became Rector of the church. For some time the location of the church had been thought un- favorable for its usefulness, as being too far up in the unsettled parts of the city ; and in the spring of 1842, it was removed to its pre-


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sent position, near Twenty-first street, and there enlarged and repaired. Mr. Pyne re- mained with the church about two years, when he resigned, and was succeeded in September, 1844, by the Rev. Samuel L. Southard, the present minister. The corner stone of a new edifice, near the site of the old one, was laid by the Bishop of Michigan, on March 10th, 1841.


ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH. 1


In the early part of the year 1837, an ef- · fort was made to establish an Episcopal Church, for the benefit of the German popu- lation in the city. A Presbyterian Church of German members had been organized in the year 1834, and the Rev. George Mills was installed as its pastor ; but in October, 1837, the church agreed to become Episco- - pal, under the name of St. Timothy's Church. Mr. Mills received deacon's orders, and was appointed to the charge of the church.


In the course of that year, a house of wor- ship was erected on Sixth street, near the Bowery, at a cost of $16,000, which was fin- ished and consecrated, October 3d, 1S33. But before this took place, the church was


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


suddenly deprived of its minister by death. This blasted their rising hopes, and broke them up. A heavy debt lay upon the church edifice, which the congregation could not discharge, and they suffered it to be sold un- der foreclosure of mortgage. It was bought for $14,000, by the " Sixth Street Baptist Church," and " St. Timothy's Church " be- came extinct. This took place in the year 1840.


" CHURCH OF THE REDEMPTION.


The Baptist Church, who purchased the house of worship in Sixth street, as related above, held it about two years, when they found it necessary to dispose of it; and it was purchased for $11,000, by an Episco- pal Congregation, formed November 28th, 1842, and styled " The Church of the Re- demption." This church has about forty-five members. Rev. Isaac Pardee is Rector.


ST. SIMON'S CHURCH.


Although St. Timothy's Church was. scattered, yet the German population was not forgotten. Through the efforts of a few


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gentlemen, members of different churches, a new church of fifteen members, styled " St. Simon's," was organized in 1844, occupying a small frame building in Houston street, where the service is performed in the Ger- man language. Rev. Christian Cruse, D.D., is Rector.


" CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION." 1


A church under this title was organized April 16th, 1838, enrolling about fifty mem- bers, and of this church the Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., became Rector, and in August following the church was received into the Convention. An edifice was ob- tained, standing on the corner of Prince and Thompson streets,-a substantial stone building, erected by the Associate Presby- terians. This building was consecrated ac- cording to the rites of the Episcopal Church, on March 25th, 1838, being the festival of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, and the church from this circumstance was called " The Church of the Annunciation." The church continued to occupy this build- ing until the spring of the year 1845, whenit was relinquished to the " Emanuel Free


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Church," and the church of the Annuncia- "tion retired to the chapel of the New York University, where they at present remain. Dr. Seabury is still Rector. About 100 are enrolled in communion. It is understood this church has recently purchased lots on which to build a house of worship, on Fourteenth . street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues.


ST. JUDE'S FREE CHURCH.


In the month of December, 1842, the Rev. R. C. Shimeall commenced preaching in the Chapel of the New York University, with a view to the ultimate gathering of a church. His efforts were successful, and in the spring of 1843 an Episcopal Church was organized, which took the name of " St. Jude's Protestant Free Church." Dur- ing that summer a small building was pur- chased, standing on leased ground, on the Sixth avenue, opposite Amity street. This building was enlarged and thoroughly re- paired, at a cost of about $4,000, including the purchase money, and has become a very convenient and respectable house of wor- ship, being 67 feet long, and 46 feet wide, and capable of accommodating nearly 800


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. persons. The building was finished during the year 1844, and the congregation re- moved thither. Mr. Shimeall is Rector of the church. It is a flourishing congrega- tion, and bids fair to be very useful in that section of the city.


FRENCH CHURCH DU St. SAUVEUR.


This church was organized in 1843, and had about 20 regular communicants. Rev. . C. H. Williamson was appointed Rector. Having as yet no house of worship, they . assemble in the " Brick Church Chapel," near the Park. The congregation is not large. All the exercises are conducted in the French language.


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CHURCH OF THE SAVIOUR.


The Floating Chapel for seamen was built by the " Young Men's Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church," and was opened for religious worship on Feb. 15, 1844. It was built on a firm platform, or deck, covering two boats, and makes a con- venient room, 70 feet long, and 30 feet wide. It is permanently moored in the East River,


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at the foot of Pike street. As soon as the chapel was prepared, a church was or- ganized, called the " Church of the Saviour." Rev. B. C. C. Parker is Rector.


EMMANUEL FREE CHURCH.


This church was received into the Con- vention in Sept., 1845, having been formed during the year preceding. They occupy the house of worship vacated by the Church of the Annunciation, on the corner of Prince and Thompson streets. No parochial report has yet been published. Rev. Edwin A. Nichols is Rector.


" ANGLO-AMERICAN FREE CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE THE MARTYR."


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Such is the style of an Episcopal Church, · established in 1845, for the particular accom- modation of British Emigrants. They meet in a Hall on Broadway, near Canal street .. Rev. Moses Marcus is Rector.


CHURCH OF THE HOLY APOSTLES.


· A church by this name was formed in 1845, under the Rectorship of the Rev. F.


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


Thayer. They meet in a Hall on Thirty- sixth street, near the Eighth avenue, but have commenced building a church edifice on Twenty-eighth street, near Ninth avenue. The corner-stone was laid in April, 1846.


CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMMUNION. :


A very costly and singular building was erected in the year 1845, on the Sixth ave- nue, at the corner of Twentieth street, taking the above name. It is a free church, having no pews, but is furnished with free seats. Rev. W. A. Muhlenberg is the Rector.


CHURCH OF THE CRUCIFIXION.


Preaching was commenced in the Hall of the Lyceum of Natural History, on Broad- way, toward the close of the year, 1845, by the Rev. John Grigg, and soon after a church under the above name was formed. The. congregation is at present small.


CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.


A small Episcopal church by this name has been gathered under the ministry of Rev. R. Hoyt, meeting in a Hall on Market


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street, near Munroe street. The organiza- tion was effected in the early part of the year 1846.


CHURCH OF THE ADVENT.


An Episcopal church by this name was formed in the early spring of 1846, meeting on Fortieth street, near Ninth avenue. They have as yet no pastor.


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


DATES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EPIS- COPAL CHURCHES IN NEW YORK,


WITH THE MEMBERS IN COMMUNION, AS REPORTED TO THE CONVENTION IN 1844. NO PAROCHIAL REPORTS WERE PUBLISHED IN 1845.


Date.


Com.


Trinity


1697


St. Paul's Chapel


1766


800


St. John's Chapel


1807


St. George's


1752


463


Christ's.


1794


120


St. Mark's


1799


230


Du St. Esprit


1804


85


St. Stephen's.


1805


343


St. Michael's.


1807


30


Grace .


1809


275


St. Philip's (colored),


1809


300


St. James


1810


25


Zion


1810


150


St. Luke's.


1820


257


St. Mary's.


1823


20


St. Thomas'


1823


457


. All Saints'


1824


325


Ascension


1827


420


St. Andrew's


1829


36


St. Clement's


1830


140


St. Peter's


1831


244


Church of the Evangelists


1831


200


Epiphany.


1833


500


Nativity .


1834


80


St. Bartholomew's


1835


409


Calvary .


1836


50


Annunciation


1838


100


St. Matthew's


1842


177


Redemption


1843


45


St. Jude's 1843


40


Church of the Saviour


1844 no report.


French Church du St. Sauveur


1844


20


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


St. Simon's 1844


15


Emmanuel 1845 no report.


St. George the Martyr. 1845 no report.


Church of the Holy Apostle. 1845 no report.


Church of the Holy Communion


1845 no report.


Church of the Messiah (colored) 1845


20


Church of the Good Shepherd 1846 no report.


Church of the Crucifixion .1846 no report.


Church of the Advent


1846 no report.


Total reported


6376


LIST OF EPISCOPAL CHURCHES ONCE FORMED AND BECOME EXTINCT.


Date.


Calvary (near Corlaer's Hook)


1820


Christ's (Ann street)


1823


St. Ann's (Fort Washington)


1825


St. Augustine's 1834


Emmanuel 1834


Free Church of the Redemption 1836




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